ENOC and Aldrees sign joint venture to establish service stations in Saudi Arabia

Dubai/Riyadh: Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), Dubai’s leading petroleum retailer with a significant footprint in lifestyle and consumer retailing, has signed a joint venture agreement with Aldrees Petroleum ‘&’ Transport Services Company (Aldrees), one of Saudi Arabia’s largest petroleum retailers and commodity hauling companies, to set up service stations in different locations across the Kingdom.

As per the 50:50 joint venture, the service stations will feature all the specialised and popular brands operated by ENOC including ZOOM, Pronto, Super Lube and Super Wash. The first station under the partnership is expected to open early next year, followed by the progressive roll-out of the rest in due course.

Saeed Abdullah Khoory, ENOC’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “ENOC is focused on expanding its business presence regionally and internationally, and Saudi Arabia is a strategic market that offers perfect market synergies for our growth. Over the past years, we have established our competencies in retail operations through our service stations which offer convenient options not only to motorists, but also to general consumers as well.

“The addition of several lifestyle brands as well as specialised automobile-related retail services has further underlined our credentials in value-added offerings. We are honoured to partner with Aldrees, a leader in petroleum retailing, to support the opening of service stations in the Kingdom and extend our capabilities in retail. This joint venture will also create new jobs for young Saudis and we will focus on strengthening their job competencies through our training programmes, thus serving as an effective partner in the Kingdom’s Vision.” Eng. Abdulelah Saad Aldrees of Aldrees said: “With a network of more than 450 service stations in the Kingdom, Aldrees is an industry leader in petroleum retailing in Saudi Arabia. In line with our commitment to add value to our stakeholders, we are continuously exploring expansion opportunities that bring clear differentials to the market.

“ENOC has a tremendous breadth of retailing experience that is a perfect fit for our core strengths. We are confident that the joint venture will create a new history in petroleum retailing in the GCC region and offer enhanced services for the convenience of our customers. The stations will also be of immense value to travellers, especially during the Hajj season.” ENOC Retail will offer its full breadth of expertise in retailing to Aldrees in developing the service stations. In addition to showcasing a choice of fuel retailing products, the stations will also have other lifestyle choices such as restaurants, fresh food and coffee, and convenient automotive services. A number of environment-friendly products and services that are offered by ENOC, such as the waterless car wash and green lubricants, will also be made available at the stations in the Kingdom.

Burhan Al Hashemi added: “The success of our retailing operations is led by a commitment to offer our customers value added and superior lifestyle experiences. In addition to operating convenience stores that meet the varied needs of our customers, we will continue to expand our portfolio of world-class cafes and dining concepts across the region. Our partnership with Aldrees marks a true milestone in the operations of ENOC Retail. This is a perfect example of two organisations drawing on their strengths to offer value to customers.” ENOC Retail has established itself as a petroleum retailing leader in the UAE. Operating across a network of service stations in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, ENOC Retail, over the years, has come to symbolise speed, convenience, service and value.

With more than 70 million customer transactions annually, ENOC Retail, today, has over 4,000 employees who spearhead the retailing of fuel, petroleum products and an array of products and services, most of them targeted at the everyday requirements of motorists. The retail business also has many brands in the food ‘&’ beverage sector, providing management services and franchising the brands across the Middle East and North Africa region.

One of the largest petroleum retail and commodity hauling companies in Saudi Arabia with a network of more than 450 petrol filling stations, Aldrees has a fleet of 1,032 tractor heads with 1,376 cargo carriers ranging from chemical/lubricant tankers, trailers, bulkers, to flat beds. The company serves a majority of the transport market and supply fuel to key accounts in both private and government sectors.